Long Way to Go Lyrics
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt
Cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther
Upgrade computer
[Verse 1: Andre 3000 & Gwen Stefani]
His/her skin wasn't the same color as mine
But she/he was fine, he/she was fine
If all men are made equal, then
He/she was fine, she/he was fine
Up until the time we went out on a date
I was fine, I was fine
Now I'm getting dirty looks, I wonder what they'd say
If we were blind, we were blind people
[Chorus: Gwen Stefani & Andre 3000]
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt
Cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther
Upgrade computer
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt
Cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther
Upgrade computer
Beauty is beauty, whether it's black or white
Yellow or green, baby, you know what I mean
What if Picasso only used one color?
There shouldn't be a rule how to choose your lover
Lovers in love is such a wonderful thing
Maybe in time we'll get together and sing
I really hope so, there's nothing wrong with this picture
We go a long way to go, we gotta get there quick
Ooohh
[Chorus: Gwen Stefani & Andre 3000]
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt
Cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther
Upgrade computer
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt
Cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther
Upgrade computer
[Bridge: Gwen Stefani & Andre 3000]
What color... is love?
What color... is love?
What color... is love?
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt
Cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther
Upgrade computer
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt
Cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther
Upgrade computer
[Outro: Martin Luther King Junior's "I Have A Dream" speech]
.."that ALL men are created equal..."
"Children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by..."
"...by the color of their skin, but..." "...but by the content of their character..."
"This will be the day when ALL God's children..."
"...will be able to sing with a new meaning..."
"...not only that..."
About
The last track on Stefani’s album is a powerful song about interracial relationships, with a little help from Outkast member Andre 3000.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
On working with Andre 3000:
He’s crazy talented. Like totally get-down-on-yourself talented. I didn’t have a lot to offer. If I’m super honest, it makes me look stupid, that I’m sitting next to him, feeling all blank brain, hoping I can come up with something good. And meanwhile, he keeps writing away. But you’re in with Andre, so even if you don’t get all your ideas in there, you’re going to make something great."
– Via MTV
I think this song is a masterpiece. Andre wrote this entire record by hand. You can have a concept or feeling, but the record basically took on a journey of everybody that I worked with. He wanted to make that statement [about interracial relationships]. Especially with the fact that we were working together, too. I don’t know if people judged him for working with me or he was thinking of that idea of different races coming together. One of my favorite lines in the song is “What color is love?” It’s such a beautiful song. If people ever missed that one, they should go back and listen because it’s incredible. It’s such a serious subject. The record was supposed to be this joke in a way, but it turned out to be an artistic statement that I never thought I would get to make. It was this deep, triumphant love record, masked in this fun music."
— Via Billboard (2019)